Railway-crossing



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. H. ST. JOHN.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

No. 388,929. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. H. ST. JOHN.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

No. 388,929. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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3 Sheets -Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

B. H. ST. JOHN.

RAILWAY CROSSING. No. 388,929. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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UNrrnD STATES RAILWAY- Pnrnnr rains.

ROSWELL H. ST. JOHN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CROSSING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,929, dated fieptember 4, 1888.

Application filed November 5, 1887. Serial No. 25!,356. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROSWELL H. ST. JOHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oleveland,in the county ofGuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Crossings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in railway-crossings; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 rep resents a plan view of my improved crossing mechanism applied where two roads cross at right angles to each other. Fig. 2is aplan view of the movable portion of the mechanism detached from the other parts. Fig. 3 is a section taken through the center of Fig. 1 from top to bottom. Fig. 4 is section longitudinally on the line of the center of the rail on the right of Fig. 1, but showing the short corner-rail turned to connect in the opposite direction. Fi 5 is a perspective view of the solid metallic rail-frame upon which the intersecting rails of the two roads and the movable mechanism are supported. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the bcdframc which carries the metallic rail-frame. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the oscillating corner-posts with its rail-sec tion detached. Fig. 8 shows one of the crankarms which are fixed to each of the several oscillating cornerposts for operating the same. Fl". 9 is a perspective View of the chain of mechanism by which the cornerposts are operated.

The invention as here shown and described is adapted to two roads, A B, crossing each other at right angles on the same level; but it should be understood that the angle is not material, and that the mechanism is equally adaptable to roads crossing at any other an gle. \Vhere the crossing is located a suitable well is dug a foot or more in depth to make room for the operating mechanism which is placed beneath the tracks and in position where it cannot be tampered with nor dis turbed. The frame-work of the crossing is built upon foundations about the wall, and consists in this instance of a rectangular wooden frame, 6, and a metallic rectangular frame, D, firmly fastened to frame 0 by bolts or other suitable means. The frame 0 has a projecting portion, 2), at one corner and ascarf, b at another corner, the use of which is hereinafter explained, and annularreccsses b" in its inner corners for accommodating the tubular projections on frame D. The frame D is cast bodily and solidlyin a single piece of metal having all the features and parts illustrated in Fig. 5, which gives it great strength and durability. At its respective corners it is provided with short projections (1, so located as to form supports for the ends of the rails which terminate at the crossing. These projections have dovetail grooves (1', in which the rails with corresponding ienons may be firmly fast ened. In the angle of the projections d are annular cavities or recesses (2 of about the same depth as the grooves d, and extending from the bottom of frame D, beneath these recesses, are tubular bearings (1, having a bore about one-third the diameter (more or less) of the recesses d Shoulders or stops d are formed between the grooves d and the recesses d, which are intended to prevent expansion of the rails in that direction, which might ocour and interfere with the operation of the mechanism if the shoulders were not there. The expansion of the rail will therefore necessarily be provided for in the other direction and away from the crossing. Between the recesses d in both directions the frame D is further provided with channels (1, in which short intervening rails are secured in any approved way, by bolts or otherwise.

E represents one of the four oscillating corner-posts which occupy the tubular bearings d and the recesses d". These posts are formed with a head, 6, fashioned to fit somewhat snugly and evenly in the recess (2 and a stem, e, extending through the bearing cl. The surface of the head 6 is flush with the surrounding surface of the frame D, and has a dovetail groove, 9 corresponding to the like grooves in the said frame, in which is secured a short rail -section,F, by set-screws or other sufficient track.

means. This rail-section bridges the respective corners of the crossing so evenly and with such slight interruption in the continuity of the track that a train will traverse the crossing without perceptible break in the rails. The large flat head of the oscillating cornerpost, resting as it does in the recess (1 with ample lateral and bottom support, serves to give a firm wide bearing-surface to the railsection F, thus insuring steadiness as well as strength when under the weight of the locomotive and cars.

Special advantage is claimed for the manner of attaching the section F, in that it is readily removable from its snpportingpost, and may be quickly replaced by another section when for any reason a change is neces sary.- It is well known that the short sections in a crossing are subjected to severe wear and strain, and that they require comparatively frequent renewal. By making them separate from the supporting-post I therefore am enabled not only to make the change easily and without disturbing other parts, but without, also, discarding the supporting-post, as would have to be done if the two were integral,which is a matter of considerable economy.

To operate the oscillating corner-posts E and place them all under control of a single lever or other unitary mechanism, I fix a lever, G, to the lower end of each post, where it extends beneath the bearing d, using a setscrew or the like for that purpose, which enables me to so adjust said levers with reference to the posts and the other parts of the operating mechanism that when the mechanism is in one extreme of its throw the sectional rails will be carried into alignment with one track and when in the other extreme with the other The mechanism employed for this purpose, as shown here, consists of two bars, l-I, each connected at its ends with two of the levers on the same side of the crossing, thus coupling the oscillating posts in two series, which are then reduced to single or unitary control by links K, attached to inwardly-projecting arms h on the connecting-bars, and thence by a common eoupling block, M, to a short arm rigid with the rock-shaft N. The rock-shaft N is journaled at one end in the we tension 1) of the wooden frame B, and at the other end on a piece which is spliced to said frame at the scarf b, above described. The

said shaft extends laterally any desirable distance from the track, whereit is provided with alever and locking mechanism of any wellknown kind.

It will be observed that with the foregoing a mechanism and the oseillatingcorner-posts earrying the short sectional rails, connected as described, the said short sections expose different sides to wear, according as they are turned to register with one track or the other that is, if in line with the track running, say, as they are shown in Fig. 1, the wear is on the inside of said sections. Then when they are thrown into line with the cross-track the positions of the sections become reversed and the opposite sides are carried inside. This makes the said sections wear evenly on both wear are so severe.

Obviously the mechanism above described may be changed and varied and still be within the scope of my invention; but I have shown the invention in a form in which the construction is exceedingly simple as well as very desirable and practical. The number of parts has been reduced to the minimum in a structure of this general character, while the mechanism as a whole is believed to be a great improvement on the forms of crossings hitherto known.

The well or pit beneath the crossing may be covered by means of plank or the like, and

7C sides, which is an object where the strain and a the crossing may be employed in surface-roads of any description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a railway-crossing, an angular bedframe, in combination with a metallic railframe corresponding in outlines to said bedframe and having tubular bearings projecting from its under surface which fit in the corners of the bed-frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a railway-crossing provided with oscillating corner posts, the combination,with the said posts, of adjustable levers on their lower ends, a system of bars and links connecting the posts in pairs on the sides of the crossing and uniting the pairs to a common central coupling, and a rock-shaft having an arm for operating said coupling and the mechanism connected therewith, substantially as set forth.

3. In a railwaycrossing, a metallic frame provided with bearings for the oscillating posts of the crossing, and said .posts, in combination with levers adjustably attached to said posts, connecting-bars pivoted on said levers in series on each side of the crossing, a link attached to an arm on each of said bars, and a common coupling for the links on a rock shaft, substantially as set forth.

ROSWELL H. ST. JOHN.

it n esses H. T. FISHER, WM. M. MONROE. 

